Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have released the new framework and handbook for local area inspections.
Area SEND: framework and handbook – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The NNPCF have been closely engaged in the development of the new framework over the last 18 months ranging from feeding back on parent carer perspectives on the first round of inspections to local forums engaging in the pilot inspections under the new framework run by Ofsted and the CQC in recent months.
There are significant changes in the new framework, most notably:
Four different types of inspection dependent upon the status of the local area:
- Full inspections
- Monitoring visits for those areas with identified areas for priority action
- Engagement meetings to evaluate an areas self-assessment and development plans
- Thematic visits to explore different aspects of the SEND system
There will be three categories of rating given to local areas
- Local services lead to positive experiences for CYP with SEND
- Inconsistent experiences
- Significant concerns
- There will be a greater focus on outcomes and impact compared to the previous inspection regime which focussed more on the implementation of the 2014 reforms
- In their work, the experiences of CYP with SEND will form the central plank of the assessment. This will be done through surveys, talking to parent carer and CYP representative groups and looking at six representative case studies chosen by the inspectors.
Many of the themes that the NNPCF made representations on have been reflected in the new framework including a greater focus on outcomes, joint working, early help and coproduction with families. There are strong ties across things we asked for in the SEND and Alternative Provision Green Paper through the production of a joined up strategic plan.
We are particularly pleased that the NNPCF has been successful in ensuring that the new framework recognises the importance of parent carer forums in the inspection process. It specifies several areas in which parent carer forums are involved:
- Making arrangements for the local area survey
- Meeting inspectors at the start of the inspection to develop its scope
- Meeting inspectors to discuss the self evaluation and strategic planning of a local area
- Participation in the feedback meeting
- Receipt of a copy of the final report (from the local area)
- Notification of the arrangements for monitoring inspections
We are keen to seek early feedback from those areas that have taken part in the pilot inspections under this new framework.
If your area has been a pilot area, please complete this short survey. https://forms.office.com/e/W5nvbDc1Vd
We will use this information to feed back to the inspectors about how they can improve the implementation of the new framework and we will share the findings with our member forums to brief them on what they can expect.
You can find some of our work on this subject here
